Long before Evansville Graveyard was established, the "Evansville Cemetery", was the very first cemetery of this area and was located in the vicinity of Court, 3rd, 4th 5th and Sycamore Streets. Established in 1821 through land donation by Hugh McGary, it was used as a public burying ground even before Evansville was laid out. It was neglected as early as 1836 and when the Canal Basin was dug, it is reported the bodies there were removed.

Source: George William Goodge, autobiography of 1921:
"The canal proper ran up Fifth Street to Sycamore. From Sycamore Street it ran across the block, between Sycamore and Vine, into what was called The Basin... There was a cemetery on that spot of ground, and the bodies were removed and the Canal Basin was dug..." 2

Excavation for the basin of the Wabash & Erie Canal was begun by 1837. Oak Hill Cemetery was not established until 1853, so most burials would have been removed to the Evansville Graveyard at Chandler and 5th Streets.

The Evansville Graveyard was between 4th and 6th Streets, near Chandler and Canal Streets. Evansville, Pigeon Township, Vanderburgh County, IN. Section 29, Township 6 South, Range 10 West

Sources:

Wellge, Henry. Perspective Map of the City of Evansville, Ind. 1888. Milwaukee: American Publishing Co., 1888.

"Old Cemeteries Often Disappear." Evansville Courier & Press 20 February 2000.

Griffing's Atlas of Vanderburgh County, Indiana : From Actual Surveys Under the Direction of B. N. Griffing. An Illustrated Plat Book of Vanderburgh and Warrick Counties, Indiana. Evansville, Ind.: Unigraphic, 1975. (Reprint. Originally Published: Philadelphia: D.J. Lake & Co., 1880 (1st work) ; Evansville, Ind.: Tillman & Fuller Publishing Co.

Compilation by Shirleen Farley, history4sure